Stuart Mason

Football player infobox
playername = Stuart Mason


fullname = Stuart James Mason
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = 2 June 1948
cityofbirth = Whitchurch, Shropshire
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|2006|2|5|1948|6|2|df=y
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Full-back
youthyears = ?–1964
1964–1966
youthclubs = Whitchurch Alport
Wrexham
years = 1966
1966–1968
1967
1968–1973
1973–1977
1976
1977
1977–1979
c.1979–1980
c.1981–1985
clubs = Wrexham
Liverpool
→ Doncaster Rovers "(loan)"
Wrexham
Chester
→ Rochdale "(loan)"
→Crewe Alexandra "(loan)"
Bangor City
Rhyl
Oswestry Town
caps(goals) = 28 0 0(0)
0 000(0)
1 000(0)
157 0 (3)
137 0 (7)
2 0 0 (0)
4 0 0 (1)
nationalyears = 1966
nationalteam = England Youth
nationalcaps(goals) = 3 0 0 (0)
managerclubs = Bangor City
Barnton
Coedpoeth
manageryears = 1978–1979
1984–1985
?
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Stuart Mason (2 June 1948 – 5 February 2006) was an English professional footballer who made appearances in The Football League for five clubs. The vast majority of his time was spent with Chester and Wrexham, mainly from full–back.

Playing career

Mason was born in Whitchurch and began his playing days as a youngster with Shropshire based non-league side Whitchurch Alport, which led to him joining Wrexham as a 16-year old in November 1964.cite web|url= http://www.chester-city.co.uk/stuart_mason.asp |title= Stuart Mason - Obituary| publisher=www.chester-city.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-13] He made his first-team debut in January 1966 and was selected for England Youth three times in the following months. In October 1966 he completed a memorable year when he moved to Liverpool.

Mason was unable to break into the first-team squad at Anfield and after a brief loan spell at Doncaster Rovers he rejoined Wrexham in June 1968. He was largely a regular over the next five years, playing in the Division Four promotion winning side in 1969–70 and appearing in European Cup Winners Cup action after Wrexham lifted the Welsh Cup in 1972.

In 1973 Mason made the short journey across the border to Chester for £2,000,Cite news | title= Stuart Mason | url= http://www.chestercityfc.net/article/302022/Stuart-Mason | publisher= Chester City Official Website | date= 2006-02-06 | accessdate= 2008-01-13] where he was again initially a regular player. His most memorable contributions came in the club's glorious 1974–75 season, when they defied all expectations to face Aston Villa in the Football League Cup semi–finals. Trailing 4–2 on aggregate in the second leg, Mason scored a stunning goal to give Chester hope in a tie they eventually lost 5–4. Later in the season he scored the winner on the final day of the season at Crewe Alexandra that ultimately secured promotion from Division Four for Chester and ensured he would forever hold hero status with supporters. Two years later Mason scored in Chester's 4–1 second leg win over Port Vale to help the club win the Debenhams Cup, their first national English trophy.

Mason's son-Simon, currently plays for Wrexham Supporters club. Operating as a central midfielder

Mason played his last game for Chester in a 1–1 draw with Plymouth Argyle on October 8 1977. The same month saw him play his final Football League matches out on loan at Crewe Alexandra (having spent time with Rochdale the previous year). In December 1977 Mason moved to Bangor City, where he was to have a spell as manager. [cite web|url= http://www.citizens-choice.co.uk/managers.html |title= Bangor City managers 1972-1978| publisher=www.citizens-choice.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-13] Mason was later at Rhyl, Oswestry Town and Coedpoeth and continued to play for veterans teams.

A former captain of Shropshire County Cricket Club, [cite web|url= http://www.ldcc.org.uk/01753.htm |title= Shock death of Wrexham legend| publisher=www.ldcc.org.uk | accessdate=2008-01-13] Mason ran his own sports shop in Wrexham and had a spell back with the Welsh side as assistant commercial manager.In later years he was involved in coaching Chester’s youngsters.

Honours

Wrexham

• Football League Division Four runners-up: 1969–70 (39 apps, 1 goal)

• Welsh Cup winners: 1971–72.

Chester

• Football League Division Four promotion as fourth placed team: 1974–75.

• Football League Cup semi-finalists: 1974–75.

• Debenhams Cup winners: 1976–77.

External links

* [http://www.chester-city.co.uk/stuart_mason.asp Chester City obituary]
* [http://www.ldcc.org.uk/01753.htm Wrexham tributes]
* [http://www.citizens-choice.co.uk/managers.html Bangor City manager profile (see 1972-1978 section)]

References